RACJourn 2017: For the Youth, For the Filipinos

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Unleash your campus journalism skills at “RACJourn 2017: For the Youth, For the Filipinos” happening on February 4, 2017 at De La Salle University-Manila!

Organized by the Rotaract Club of RCDM Scholars and Intellectual Property Advocates of De La Salle University-Manila, the competition invites junior and senior high school students around the metro to share their writing and artistic skills through this year’s theme: “Intellectual Property Rights and the Modern Era of Mass Media Communication.”

Contestants may choose in five categories (individual): News Writing, Editorial Writing, Feature Writing, Sports Writing, and Editorial Cartooning (all in English and Filipino categories). Contestants may also be in groups for the Best School Publication and IP Brochure layout.

The registration fee is P300, inclusive of RACJourn kit, lunch, and freebies from our sponsors.

RACJourn 2017 is powered by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, Citinickel Mines and Development Corporation, Fly Ace Corporation, Rotary Club of Downtown Manila, Brad and Pitts Ribshack, Nissin Yakisoba, Nissin Cup Noodles, with WhenInManila.com and Wazzup Philippines as official media partners.

For inquiries, contact Aubrey Nichole C. Reyes at 09151880262 or email us at racjourn.rotary@gmail.com. You can pre-register at https://t.co/PVnbRnEzhY.

See you there!

Porn Site Blocked by Philippine Government?

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Beko Philippines Holds Kick Your Way to Barcelona Qualifying Round

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Beko Philippines earlier conducted its Kick Your Way to Barcelona qualifying round to determine the finalists for February 10, 2017 where the emerging winner will fly to Barcelona to witness the FC Barcelona football game and enjoy 5 days and 4 nights of an all expense paid tour of Barcelona, Spain.

The qualifying round was held at Sparta Philippines located along Pioneer street in Mandaluyong on January 14, 2017. It was participated by a mixed crowd coming from both newbies and professionals. I was also among the participants but was not lucky enough to qualify.

The top qualifiers were able to shoot 3 points as the highest, while the rest of the qualifiers had one goal. Out of around 30 participants, around 10 qualifiers emerged to compete again for another elimination round.

One one participant was able to shoot the ball on the first round, while less than 10 were able to get a goal on the second round of the qualifying event. I am just glad that a friend made it into the qualifying round as this guy is really so eager in joining similar competitions especially those that are conducted online. This is not the first time that he was lucky enough to get in as among the finalists and he has also even won and joined international competitions for lucky social media followers of different companies or brands.

​​Igor Subora Relishes Opportunity to Train with Former Foe Brandon Vera

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Brandon Vera and Igor Subora stood opposite each other inside the ONE Championship cage over two years ago when the two highly-decorated heavyweights crossed paths in their much-anticipated promotional debut.

Both men faced each other inside the jam-packed 20,000-capacity SM Mall of Asia Arena, serving as a co-featured attraction of ONE: WARRIOR’S WAY in December 2014.

Vera came out on top of Subora, finishing his Ukrainian rival with a thunderous high kick and follow-up ground strikes in the first round.

Seeing the outcome of their action-packed encounter, it seemed impossible for Vera and Subora to have a friendly relationship outside the cage.

However, nearly three years after their grueling heavyweight meeting, Vera and Subora are on the same mat polishing their skills together.

Anthony Engelen Credits Supportive MMA Team for Recent Success

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) is about individuals, but most of its highly-regarded world champions are forged in strong camps that bring in many great fighters.

In a very different atmosphere from boxing, MMA hardly sees any high-profile competitors building training camps around one man or woman as it often centered around a gym where several coaches work in conjunction with each other to train a stable of fighters of varying skills and weight classes.

These gyms often take on a close-knit and team-based environment, which is very unusual for an individual combat sport like mixed martial arts. However, it leads to an effective outcome.

Dutch-Indonesian standout Anthony “Archangel” Engelen credits his current stature as an international MMA competitor to his team.

The 31-year-old standout trains at Tatsujin Dojo, an MMA training facility that is established in Jakarta, Indonesia. The gym was founded by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and martial arts guru Martijn de Jong in 1995.

Ever since he started his prizefighting stint in 2013, Engelen has been training at Tatsujin Dojo under the tutelage of De Jong.

Although he aced his first three assignments as a professional fighter, Engelen encountered mix results when he directed his career path to ONE Championship in 2015.

Engelen fell short in his December 2015 promotional debut against grappling world champion Bruno Pucci. Even though he managed to redeem himself with a win over ex-Filipino boxer Rocky Batolbatol in February 2016, he suffered another setback at the hands of Singaporean prospect Christian Lee a month later.

Despite going through ups and downs in his budding MMA career, Engelen did not lose hope as De Jong and the entire crew of Tatsujin Dojo never left his side.

Engelen trusted the entire process and eventually reaped the fruits of his labor. To cap off his 2016 campaign, he scored a sensational victory over Sami Amin in August, submitting the Egyptian journeyman with a second-round armbar.

“My last fight has only made me feel a lot stronger and more confident in my training,” Engelen shared.

As to whatever he has achieved lately inside the ONE Championship cage, Engelen quickly gives the recognition to his coach and training partners.

“I have a tremendous support system in my training, especially with the help of my coach Martijn de Jong. He knows how to bring out the best in me. It is always exciting to prepare for a fight,” he said.

Engelen and his team will be tested once more as he is set to square off with AJ “Pyro” Lias Mansor on the undercard of ONE: QUEST FOR POWER in Jakarta, Indonesia on 14 January.

Mansor is one of the finest MMA coaches in the Southeast Asian region. Based out of Borneo Tribal Squad in Sabah, Malaysia, Mansor is responsible for training athletes like female fighting sensation Ann “Athena” Osman.

His opponent might have a remarkable team behind him, but Engelen is confident that his support system has geared him up splendidly for his three-round featherweight meeting with the seasoned veteran.

“I have an outstanding support system for this fight. I have the best coach in my corner. I also train with the best fighters in the region. With that said, I’m confident coming into this fight because I have them behind me,” he stated.

​For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Soleus Running Dance Fest 2017 Updates

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Date: February 4, 2017 | Saturday
Venue: SM by the Bay, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City
Distance Categories: 5K | 10K | 21K
Assembly Time: 3:00 a.m.
Gun Start:
21K - 4:00 a.m
10K - 5:00 a.m
5K - 5:30 a.m.
Dance starts at 6:30 a.m                            

Registration Fee:
5K - P600.00 | inclusive of Race Bib, Event Singlet and Finisher Medal
10K - P750.00 | inclusive of Race Bib, Event Singlet and Finisher Medal
21K - P950.00 | inclusive of Race Bib, Event Singlet, Finisher Medal and Finisher Shirt

PRIZES:

TOP 3 FINISHERS (Male & Female) per distance category will receive Soleus watches and other sponsor’s products
and MEET & GREET Session with Peruvian International Fitness Presenter, WILLIAM FLORES.

REGISTRATION:
Online Registration: (starts December 13, 2016)
Log on to www.goorahna.com
Thru Bank Deposit: (starts December 13, 2016)

BANCO DE ORO
Account Name: Mirjam Ann G. Del Rosario
Account Number: 003980196644

ONCE PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE: please e-mail the scanned copy of the deposit slip with your name, contact number and shirt size to soleus.dancefest2017@gmail.com

On-site Registration: (starts January 3, 2017 at selected L Timestudio stores)

                • L TIMESTUDIO  SM Mall of Asia | GROUND FLOOR (IN FRONT OF I-MAX)

                • L TIMESTUDIO  SM Megamall | 3RD FLOOR, MEGA A

                • L TIMESTUDIO  Market! Market! | 2ND FLOOR

                • L TIMESTUDIO  SM Southmall | GROUND FLOOR (near SM Dept. Store entrance)

                • L TIMESTUDIO  SM Marikina | GROUND FLOOR

                • L TIMESTUDIO  Robinsons Place Ermita | 2ND FLOOR

Race Kit Claiming Date:
January 27-29 (Fri-Sun)

Race Kit Claiming Time:
10am - 8pm

Race Kit claiming Venue:
Shaw 500 Building, Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City (beside S&R)

Reminder:
Please bring original copy of DEPOSIT SLIP, BANK TRANFER SLIP, CLAIM VOUCHER (issued at on-site registration) and printed copy of the on-like registration confirmation.

The 2017 ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ ASEAN Peoples’ Forum Philippines National Organizing Committee

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Philippine CSOs challenge 50 years of ASEAN, call for new form of regional integration towards a just, humane, and equitable Southeast Asia 

Prior to the Philippine Government’s launching of the ASEAN’s 50th Founding Anniversary commemoration activities in Davao City on January 15, at least 50 national and local people’s organizations and NGOs in the Philippines have come together as the Philippines-National Organizing Committee for the 2017 ASEAN Civil Society Conference / ASEAN Peoples’ Forum or ACSC/APF 2017. They announced their intention to engage the ASEAN leaders, particularly the Philippines government as ASEAN Chair this year. 

“More than half of the population in the Philippines are living insecurely – without permanent jobs and livelihoods, guaranteed access to essential services and income in times of exigencies. People in the Philippines are seeking for a real change that will give them economic and social security as well as peace and safety.We believe, we have almost common concerns across Southeast Asia. The change we need in the Philippines and the rest in the region may be summed up as just, humane, and equitable society,” said Philippines-NOC ACSC/APF co-convener Dr. Eduardo Tadem. 

Tadem, also president of the Freedom from Debt Coalition, shared that the general themes that will be tackled by APF/ACSC this year include the issues of human rights; social inequalities, social protection, labor and migration, women, gender and LGBTIQ; foreign policies, peace and security, and trade and investments; and climate change and food sovereignty. 

These issues also resonate with the challenges in the region that were identified by Dr. Suriya Chindawong, deputy director general of the ASEAN Department at the Thai Foreign Ministry in a news report the other day. He said that “ASEAN has to be more inclusive and consider inputs from common people.” He also said that “ASEAN’s other challenges include both traditional and non-traditional issues such as climate change, food security and safety, terrorism, disaster management, poverty eradication as well as issues related to social protection.” 

The ACSC/APF is a network of Southeast Asian civil society organizations and social movements that engages the ASEAN process in order to bring attention to the issues and concerns of its constituencies. Its constituents include workers, the peasantry, urban poor, fisherfolk, women, children, LGBT community, indigenous peoples, migrants, older persons, employees, professionals, students and persons with disabilities. In the past 11 years since it started, the ACSC/APF was able to gather an average of at least 1,500 civil society representatives across the region in every Forum – the last was in Dili, Timor-Leste in August 2016. 

Jelen Paclarin, co-convener of the Philippines-NOC for ACSC/APF 2017 and also Executive Director of the Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau and Coordinator of PhilWomen on ASEAN, said that now that the ASEAN Summits will be held again in the Philippines (the last time was in Cebu City in 2006), the civil society here has another opportunity to call the attention of our leaders and the rest of the leaders in ASEAN to listen to the people who are at the receiving end of policies and decisions of governments, and make ASEAN more relevant to them. She shared the conclusion of ACSC/APF Ten-Year Review conducted last year, that “ASEAN and its member governments have been seen to be more comfortable with the private sector and academic and research think tanks than with civil society” and that “individual ASEAN member countries have consistently resisted and vacillated with regards civil society participation and engagement.” 

She also quoted from the ACSC/APF 2016 Timor Leste Statement “ASEAN civil society remain extremely concerned about ASEAN’s prevailing silence and lack of attention and response to the observations and recommendations raised in all previous ACSC/APF Statements.” And that “This ... connotes disregard of the need to engage substantively with civil society in ASEAN and is cemented in the lack of open and safe space that promotes meaningful and substantive participation, inclusion and representation of all peoples of ASEAN ... in the various processes of ASEAN structures and mechanisms.” 

The ACSC/APF yearly activities of engagement process include National consultations and workshops, National and regional meetings with government counterparts, Regional Consultation Meetings, Crafting the ACSC/APF Statement, Parallel conference, and Interface. 

Ms. Ana Maria R. Nemenzo, a nominee to the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), quipped that while the ASEAN has created several bodies such as ACWC for civil society to be able to participate, these remain weak and lacking teeth like in the case of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). “The participation or so-called dialogues with the civil society remain token, thus the civil society must continue to push for more meaningful involvement in the discussions and other processes in ASEAN especially in our respective governments,” said Nemenzo who is also Convener of WomanHealth Philippines and DIGNIDAD Alliance. 

Tadem highlighted that since the ASEAN has not been effective in meeting the needs and fulfilling the rights of the people, new forms of regional integration must be developed. He said that the ACSC/APF will endeavor to develop these through coordinating the interactions between the alternative practices; convening and organizing conferences and workshops of the groups and communities involved in alternative practices; researching and documenting the practices and building a data base; conducting alternative learning and training programs based on grassroots needs; and conceptualizing and making sense of the practices and developing new paradigms and strategies of development, among others. 

The Philippines-NOC for the APF/ACSC 2017 vowed to conduct series of actions this year in pursuing the needed change in ASEAN and its member governments especially the Philippines.

Statement of Secretary Al Cusi on China Trip

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The China trip is borne out of a gracious invitation from the Chinese Ambassador HE Zhao Jianhua. In essence, the Department of Energy (DOE) is being invited to "enhance energy cooperation between our two countries".

The DOE is fortunate to have the opportunity to touch base with our counterparts in China's own ministry of energy. The purpose of the meeting is exclusively to improve our overall energy development efforts, gain knowledge from their best practices, and hopefully attract investments in our local energy projects.

I will be there strictly in my official capacity as DOE Secretary.

This meeting is a clear indication that President Duterte's state visit to China late last year was indeed successful, and is now yielding tangible benefits for our country.

About the PDP's trip to China, I would say that it coincides with the DOE official trip. In any case, it is a simple side trip for pleasantries, sharing and cultural exchange.

ePLDT Launches Visitor Management System for Faster, Easier, and Safer Reception

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Companies that receive many guests face the challenge of monitoring and tracking the people going in and out of their premises. This can be inconvenient to receptionists, employees, and even to visitors especially when traditional recording is used.

ePLDT, Inc., with its continuing initiative to deliver best-in-class digital business solutions, is proud to announce its Enhanced Visitor Experience (EVE) app, a fully digital and interactive visitor registration system designed to help companies process incoming and outgoing traffic.

According to Nico Alcoseba, Vice President and Head of PLDT’s Disruptive Business Group, the app provides a window to what kind of culture exists beyond the reception area.

“With EVE, companies can provide an interactive visitor experience to people coming to the office from the moment they first logged in to the time their host is ready to accommodate them,” Alcoseba said. “It’s a solution that guests, receptionists, and employees will find simple and enjoyable.”

EVE offers a digital end-to-end visitor-reception-host interface system through an automated visitor information recording and extraction.

“EVE addresses real-life enterprise challenges ranging from long queues, mismanagement of guest information when using pen and paper, inaccurate guest reports, and disorganized guest-host relations,” Alcoseba emphasized.

Microsoft Connected Vehicle Platform Helps Automakers Transform Cars

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Renault-Nissan is first auto manufacturer to commit to platform to build connected cars

Traditional automakers, many of whom ushered in an era of incredible disruption nearly a century ago, now face disruption themselves from four modern forces — connected, autonomous, shared and electric cars. The infrastructure and scale required to build a connected car is incredibly complicated, expensive and resource intensive. At its core, it’s a software challenge, and a chief obstacle for these brands is integrating the complex cloud technology required to deliver next-generation driving experiences.

Today at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, we announced the Microsoft Connected Vehicle Platform, a set of services built on the Microsoft Azure cloud and designed to empower auto manufacturers to create custom connected driving experiences. This is not an in-car operating system or a “finished product;” it’s a living, agile platform that starts with the cloud as the foundation and aims to address five core scenarios that our partners have told us are key priorities: predictive maintenance, improved in-car productivity, advanced navigation, customer insights and help building autonomous driving capabilities.

Microsoft’s cloud will do the heavy lifting by ingesting huge volumes of sensor and usage data from connected vehicles, and then helping automakers apply that data in powerful ways.

Available as a public preview later this year, it brings Microsoft's intelligent services from across the company right into the car, including virtual assistants, business applications, office services and productivity tools like Cortana, Dynamics, Office 365, Power BI and Skype for Business.

Japan PM Shinzo Abe Adopts Philippine Eagle and Names it as "Sakura"

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The three largest eagles on the planet are the Steller's sea eagle, the Harpy eagle and the Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga Jefferyi), a giant forest raptor endemic to the Philippines and was declared our national bird on July 15, 1995.

If you have the new Philippine passport, ypu can see that the graphics or illustration contained inside are the Philippine eagle, some tourist spots, the national anthem lyrics, and the Baybayin script.

During his two-day visit in the country, Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe adopts a female juvenile Philippine Eagle and names it Sakura, a Japanese word that means "cherry blossoms." The PM was with his wife, Madam Akie Abe, and President Rodrigo Duterte during the naming ceremonies of the Philippine Eagle "Sakura" adopted by the Government of Japan.

Likewise, the Philippines' gift to PM Shinzo Abe is a stuffed toy representing "Sakura", the Philippine Eagle adopted by Japan. He was also given a framed photo of a Philippine eagle.

One of the largest and most powerful eagles in the world, the critically #endangered Philippine eagle, also known as the Great Philippine Eagle or Monkey-eating-Eagle, is a magnificent #bird! Critical because the Philippine eagle now has an estimated population of only 150-500 mature adults and it is declining. It is almost extinct. They only hatch an egg every 2 years. Harming this bird is punishable by up to 12 years in prison by Philippine Law. It was just recently added to the IUCN Red List of critically endangered species.

With a wingspan of 7 feet, I am amazed by how magnificently majestic this wonderful creature is. It has the longest talons in the world and has been known to prey on monkeys, dogs, civets and even deer. It is the only blue-eyed bird of prey in the world! It is known to symbolise power, integrity, strength and nobility. I believe that like the Philippine Eagle, the Filipinos can find the courage and strength to rise above all the terrifying obstacles and challenges.

Friday the 13th: Are You Superstitious?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Beware of black cats, don't walk under a ladder, don't break a mirror - these are just some of the most common superstitions that are still being practiced by some individuals regardless of the fact that it has no scientific or logical proof.

I am still surprised to find out many are still believing age-old superstitions that are really too difficult to believe especially if you are educated enough to somehow deduct that there are no reasonable explanations surrounding the superstitions.

Today is Friday the 13th, and even a date has a superstition attached to it due to malicious, and obviously uneducated interpretations. This was especially made a lot more memorable when the movie series made a certain hockey mask-wearing killer popular. The Friday the 13th movie came out in 1980. Remade in 2009. Remade again in 2017. At this pace, next will be 2019, then infinite remakes in 2020. But remember that Jason Vorhees didn't wear a hockey mask until the third installment of the movie series.

I'm sure there will be a Friday the 13th horror stream in most TV channels tonight. They will be bringing back the old horror and slasher movies composed of many iconic serial killers or psychopaths.

Would it be wise to consider spending this Friday the 13th outdoors, far away from any streaming device? My grandma and I might go get a tattoo and have our nose pierced. Lol! Don't get me wrong, I love Friday the 13th movies - the series that started the mock jump scare with a cat trope.

Maybe I will watch the new movie The Bye Bye Man - Once you know his name, he won’t stop... until you're dead. #TheByeByeMan or play Friday the 13th: The Game. Savage, brutal, unrelenting. Yeah!

Also, can all the people trying to make #FridayThe13th a blissful day, stop? It's an insult to Jason!

Friday the 13th is just another day coz I'm just an unlucky asshole everyday. Maybe I'll get lucky and get hit by a bus.

Looking on the bright side. After I get killed, I would no longer hear Duterte's foul mouth and will never see Trump sit as president - two equally gruesome personalities who were able to dupe people in believing they mean well. I hope I could send a cryptic message to Jason to put on his hockey mask fire up the chainsaw & kill.

Maybe I will just scare myself in a creepy haunted house (coz there is no such Camp Crystal Lake). Of course it's gotta be on this supposed to be spookiest day of every year.

Seriously, you are in charge of your day. Choose happiness! Invite positivity!

Aung La N Sang Eyes to Win Intricately-Crafted World Title for Myanmar

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Aung La N Sang might be an ordinary mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter in the eyes of many in the world, but he is extremely revered by over 53 million Burmese people as a hero in his motherland.

A national treasure like Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar, the whole country stands still each time that Aung La steps inside the ONE Championship cage.

Aung La’s superstar status has been published in every mainstream newspaper in Myanmar. He has been a regular staple on each household’s television screen.

On the day of his bout, all walks of like unite in support of Aung La, which he then compensates with a sweet victory.

Myanmar’s beloved son will have the biggest fight in his nearly 12-year professional MMA career as he is set to challenge Vitaly Bigdash for the ONE Middleweight World Championship title at ONE: QUEST FOR POWER in Jakarta, Indonesia on 14 January.

Capturing the ONE Middleweight World Championship belt will not only put Aung La in history books as the first Burmese MMA competitor to claim a world title, but he will also have an intricately-crafted hardware in his possession.

​​MMA Veteran Vincent Latoel Banks on Experience in Must-Win Fight

Wazzup PIlipinas!

Dutch-Indonesian fighter Vincent Latoel sees his three-round lightweight encounter against Filipino journeyman Vaughn Donayre in his 15-year professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career.

Holding an experienced MMA record of 16-18-2, Latoel is coming off two-straight setbacks in 2016, bowing down to former ONE Lightweight World Champion Kotetsu Boku in February before yielding to Team Lakay’s Edward Kelly this past August.

According to Latoel, his bout against Donayre at ONE: QUEST FOR POWER in Jakarta, Indonesia on 14 January will serve as a standard of measure to determine if he is still within the top-caliber rank in the sport.

“Competing is my drive. I love every bit of it, especially the rush that I get each time I step inside the cage. As much as I would like to continue, I have to assess myself. Yes, I am still hungry. I still have the heart to compete. But of course, I have to see first if I can compete at a high level,” he said.

Latoel, who may have trained for MMA competition much longer than anybody on the ONE Championship roster, believes that his experience will play a pivotal factor in trumping Donayre.

The 37-year-old Dutch-Indonesian kickboxer is a seasoned fighter with over 30 professional bouts under his belt and has faced the best combatants in the Asian MMA circuit like Eduard Folayang, Eddie Ng and Adrian Pang.

“My experience will truly be my advantage. I have been competing for a very long time. I experienced ups and downs in my career. When I am down on the ground, it makes me so eager to get back up,” Latoel stated.

“Winning and losing are part of the sport. A true winner is someone who doesn't give up and learns from his losses. I have learned from my 2016 fights. I am back, more focused and much stronger,” he added.

AOC AGON: Promotional Partner for Asia Pacific Release of “Assassin’s Creed” The Movie

Wazzup Pilipinas!

AOC, a global leader in display technology, will be a promotional partner for the release of “Assassin’s Creed” The Movie in various Asia Pacific countries. The partnership will include an interactive social media campaign to be held throughout the region with prizes to be won.

Global entertainment industry powerhouse Twentieth Century Fox (FOX) will distribute the film. AOC and FOX have collaborated on regional movie releases at least once per year starting with “X-Men: First Class” in 2011. In 2016, AOC and FOX collaborated on the release of “Independence Day: Resurgence”.

The AOC and “Assassin’s Creed” The Movie collaborative campaign will feature the recently-launched AGON brand. AGON is AOC’s premium gaming monitors brand, which has solidified AOC’s position as a leader in the ever-growing world of competitive computer gaming. AGON monitors feature top-of-the-line gaming specs, like 144Hz refresh rates (160Hz for some models), 1ms response time and AOC Shadow Control. AGON displays include eye protection technologies like AOC Low Blue Light and AOC Flicker Free.

AOC APMEA Sr. Marketing Manager Recky said: “’Assassin’s Creed’ the Movie will be full of breathtaking action, adventure and stunning visuals. We are very excited to be a promotional partner for this film and look forward to providing more opportunities for interaction with our fans all across the Asia AOC APMEA Sr. Marketing ManagerPacific.”

AGON will now separate its lineup of displays into two categories: AGON I and AGON II. Their main point of differentiation is the anti-tearing chip used (NVIDIA G-SYNC for AGON I and Adaptive-Sync for AGON II), though there are also other specifications that differ between them.

One Championship Announces Complete Card for One: Throne of Tigers

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship (ONE), in partnership with Tune Talk, has just announced additional bouts to complete a spectacular card at ONE: THRONE OF TIGERS. The blockbuster event will feature the absolute best in local and international mixed martial arts talent, accentuating a tremendous main event bout between hometown hero Ev “E.T.” Ting and lightweight veteran Kamal Shalorus.

Victor Cui, CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “ONE: THRONE OF TIGERS is shaping up to be one of the most exciting cards we have ever held in Kuala Lumpur. It has a great headlining bout between Malaysia’s very own Ev Ting and a veteran of the sport in Kamal Shalorus. In addition, the card has an amazing roster of talent. Fans in Malaysia and all around the world can look forward to an amazing night of world-class mixed martial arts action.”

The undefeated Agilan “Alligator” Thani of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, will be making his return to the ONE Championship cage, following his spectacular submission victory over hard-hitting Filipino fighter Trestle Tan in September 2016. The 21-year old prospect is a perfect 6-0 as a professional, with five of his six victories ending in the first round. Thani has shown steady improvement in each outing, and will look to put his skills further to the test against Chinese Taipei’s Jeff Huang.

Jeff “The Machine” Huang is Chinese Taipei’s top welterweight, and he cemented that standing when he knocked out Indian kickboxer Bala Shetty in his ONE Championship debut. Despite having a comfortable career as a financial consultant, Huang elected to give it up to follow his passion and dedicate himself to mixed martial arts. Huang spent his life savings to travel the world and pick up new techniques, studying various fight disciplines. In his most recent bout, Huang finished Filipino fighter Trestle Tan with a furious punching combination to earn a scintillating first-round TKO. All six of Huang’s victories so far have ended in spectacular fashion. He will do battle with Malaysian prospect Agilan Thani next.

30-year-old Ann “Athena” Osman of Kota Kinabalu is Malaysia’s premier women’s combat sports star. Training out of the coastal locale of Sabah, the female warrior hones her craft at Borneo Tribal Squad, advancing her skills in various disciplines such as wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and Muay Thai. A well-rounded mixed martial artist, Osman likes to overpower her opponents and is extremely aggressive, always looking for the finish. Osman will take on Cambodia’s Vy Srey Khouch in her return to the ONE Championship cage.

Vy Srey Khouch is a highly-regarded Cambodian female boxer who competed in numerous international competitions. She made her professional mixed martial arts debut in 2015, winning by decision at ONE: KINGDOM OF KHMER. Srey Kouch is currently unbeaten and riding a two-fight win streak. In her next bout, she will take on the gargantuan task of handling Malaysian women’s MMA standout, Ann Osman.

28-year-old Herbert “The Blaze” Burns of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is one of the most talented featherweights in ONE Championship. The grappling specialist has a penchant for locking in fight-ending submissions, and is a legitimate threat to any opponent on the mat. In his last bout, Burns submitted the hard-hitting Timofey Nastyukhin with a first-round rear-naked choke. With his strong background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Burns is widely considered as one of the top contenders in his division. He squares off with Russian combatant Movlid Khaibulaev next.

26-year-old Movlid “Killer” Khaibulaev is currently undefeated with an immaculate 10-0 professional record, and is a mixed martial artist from Russia. Half of his victories have come by finish, including one submission and four emphatic knockouts. Having spent the majority of his career competing in his home country, Khaibulaev now makes his debut in Asia by putting his unblemished win-loss slate on the line against fellow undefeated standout Herbert Burns.

22-year-old Keanu Subba of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is a former amateur MMA standout and one of the most promising young talents in ONE Championship’s featherweight ranks. He is 4-2 as a professional mixed martial artist after making a name for himself as the former MIMMA featherweight champion. Subba’s experience inside the ONE Championship cage as a young fighter has taught him great lessons that he says has helped him improve his overall game. He’ll get the chance to test those skills against fast-rising Ahmed Mujtaba next.

Ahmed “The Wolverine” Mujtaba is a Pakistani mixed martial artist competing in ONE Championship’s stacked featherweight division. He owns a perfect professional record of six wins and no losses, with 83% of his wins coming by spectacular finish. He is known for his tremendous grappling technique which has led to four submissions out of six total victories. Mujtaba makes his second ONE Championship appearance against local Malaysian hero Keanu Subba.

Roy Doliguez is a Filipino mixed martial artist currently riding a 6-3 record. Considered one of the best strawweights in Asia, Doliguez is also a former professional boxer with more than 40 pro bouts. He made his promotional debut in 2015, vying for the inaugural ONE Strawweight World Championship against Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke. The 34-year-old native of Sarangani, Philippines, makes his return to the ONE Championship cage against Brazil’s Alex Silva.

33-year-old Alex “Little Rock” Silva of Brazil is a mixed martial artist who holds a record of 4-1 as a professional, and is riding high on a three-fight winning streak. He is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist with a terrifying ground game and knack for securing highlight-reel submission finishes. With steadily increasing confidence, Silva’s last three victories have ended in spectacular first-round submissions. He takes on former world title challenger Roy Doliguez next.

Saiful “The Vampire” Merican of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is happy to compete in front of his hometown crowd in Kuala Lumpur once again. The 28-year old flyweight combatant is an explosive striker who starts bouts fast, always looking to end matters early. He has had incredible success inside the ONE Championship cage with his fan-friendly fighting style. Merican is now looking to open 2017 with a bang by defeating Filipino fighter Burn Soriano.

Burn “The Hitman” Soriano of Ilocos Sur, Philippines, is coming off a highlight-reel victory over Indonesia’s Mario Sitya Wirawan, scoring a lightning quick 15-second spinning back fist KO. With a professional mixed martial arts record of 3-2 which includes two wins by submission and one by knockout, Soriano looks to continue his winning ways inside the ONE Championship cage. In his next bout, Soriano goes head-to-head with Malaysian MMA hero Saiful Merican.

26-year-old Tiffany “Soul Crusher” Teo is a female mixed martial artist who competes in ONE Championship’s women’s flyweight division. She holds an unblemished professional record of four wins and no losses, including two submissions and two knockouts. Born in Brunei and raised in Singapore, Teo began training in taekwondo before moving on to compete in boxing & Muay Thai and eventually transitioning to MMA. Teo is set to make her second appearance inside the ONE Championship cage against Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol.

Indonesian female fighter Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol is a striker who has trained in various standing disciplines such as kickboxing and wushu. She makes her ONE Championship debut at ONE: THRONE OF TIGERS, joining a growing list of elite female MMA talent in Asia. Gaol will look to emerge triumphant in her first appearance inside the ONE Championship cage, but will have to go through Singaporean prospect Tiffany Teo to earn the victory.

Kicking off an exciting fight card at ONE: THRONE OF TIGERS, former MIMMA featherweight champion Muhammad Aiman of Malaysia will do battle against grappling ace Eduardo Novaes. The 21-year-old Aiman is 1-1 as a professional mixed martial artist and will be put to the test against Novaes, who is making his ONE Championship promotional debut.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Ticket information for ONE: THRONE OF TIGERS is available at www.onefc.com

Complete your Sinulog Experience with the Sinulog Guide App Powered by Smart

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The Sinulog Festival is one of the much-awaited and most famous festivals in the country. This festival is so rich in culture and color that many people go out of their way to fly to Cebu despite paying a higher airfare, if only to be at the heart of the festivities.

To the lucky ones who get to be in Cebu for the festival, there is an app that can help ultimately enhance your Sinulog experience. The Sinulog Guide mobile application, the official guide to the country’s biggest festival, can let you know what to do and where to go, so you don’t miss the best that the city and the festival can offer.

Sinulog Guide app features helpful tabs that will provide you with updated activities for the festival; useful tools and information that will make it easier for you to navigate the city; as well as tips and suggested spots to check out in and around Cebu.

A project of Smart Communications, Cebu-based media start-up InnoPub, and the Sinulog Foundation, Inc. the Sinulog app is practically a festival and Cebu 101 handbook, as it features extensive information on anything and everything about the Sinulog, plus various tours and activities that you can enjoy such as waterfalls shower or river cruise, which can enhance your Cebu experience exponentially. The app also boasts an extensive directory of Cebu establishments such as restaurants, hotels, malls, and emergency services—sparing you of time wasted looking for one.

Of course, dependable mobile Internet connection are now as important to any tourist as a change of clothes. Good thing Smart offers a wide array of services like the Smart Giga Surf 99 which gives you 1.5GB data valid for 7 days. Giga Surf 99 also comes with 300MB bonus for streaming on iflix, YouTube, Spinnr, Vimeo, Dailymotion and Dubsmash, as well as Free 1 Day Full Access to iWant TV. To subscribe, text GIGA99 to 9999.

The Sinulog app is downloadable for free for Android, IOS. Just search Sinulog Guide or visit this link with your mobile browser: http://apps.myguide.ph/sinulog/

Cusi Assures Full Power Restoration in Typhoon-stricken Areas

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The Department of Energy (DOE) and its partners in the power sector are prioritizing the resumption of electricity in areas of Southern Luzon and Eastern Mindanao rendered without power by a series of typhoons.

“Our priority is to ensure that the restoration of power in typhoon-affected areas is on schedule. We have asked rehabilitation personnel to work double-time, especially in areas where power facilities were badly damaged,” said Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

An 11 January 2017 report of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) noted that all transmission lines affected by Tropical Depression (TD) Auring in Caraga are now completely restored.

NGCP reported earlier that all transmission facilities affected by Typhoon Nina have been restored as well.

Distribution utilities in Dinagat Islands, Siargao, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur affected by Tropical Depression Auring are now in the process of bringing back electricity services after NGCP worked to normalize transmission services in the said areas.

For its part, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) has reported that 80.69% or 1,368,040 of the total households affected by Typhoon Nina had already been re-energized as of 8 a.m. today (12 January).

Earlier this week, electricity supply was restored in the provinces of Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Camarines Norte and Sorsogon, NEA said.

A total of 322,818 households are undergoing rehabilitation in the following areas with the following level of restoration: Quezon (92.89%), Oriental Mindoro (98.44%), Marinduque (28.79%), Camarines Sur (47.68%), Albay (64.20%) and Catanduanes (31.65 %).

“We understand and are one with our kababayans in the remaining areas still without power. We will make sure that electricity services in all areas are restored,” Secretary Cusi said.

Davao’s Kadayawan Street Dance Tradition Goes to Hong Kong for Chinese New Year

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The Hong Kong Tourism Board invites you to celebrate the city’s biggest and most colorful festival at the Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade on January 28 at Tsim Sha Tsui. This highly received entertainment event, now on its 22nd edition, features a series of world-class performances including the famous street dance display of Davao’s Kadayawan festival.

The Kadayawan festival is a thanksgiving harvest festival, which showcases Davao’s rich culture, diversity and the unification of the province’s resident indigenous groups. The main highlight of the Kadayawan festival is the Indak-Indak Kadalanan or street dancing, which will be brought to Hong Kong as part of the line-up in this year’s Chinese New Year celebration with the theme, “Best Fortune. World Party.”

The festivity begins with a fun-filled, interactive street party, followed by a parade with spectacular floats and a wide variety of local and international performing talent, including marching bands, cheerleaders, dance troupes, and roving costumed characters.

Along with the Kadayawan street dance performance, some of the most talented groups from all over the world will be featured in the parade, including the acrobatic Wheelartistics Wuppertal from Germany, world class marching band Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps from the USA and dance group Giant Flowers and Butterflies from France plus many more. 

DOE Revokes SCC of Pasig LPG Firm; Explosion Probe Underway

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Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi vowed today to get to the bottom of the explosion in a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) refilling plant in Pasig City as he ordered close coordination by his staff with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) unit now investigating the incident.

“Public safety is always our priority and the DOE (Department of Energy) is looking closely at this unfortunate incident which injured at least 20 people. Our common objective with the BFP is to ensure that this does not happen again,” said Secretary Cusi.

To ensure their safe operation, LPG refilling plants are tasked to comply with the Philippine National Standards (PNS) for Refilling Plants and the DOE Circular on LPG Industry Rules.

A Standards Compliance Certificate (SCC) is issued once an LPG refilling plant complies with the minimum requirements of the PNS and the DOE circular. Other government agencies like the BFP, as well as local government units (LGUs) have their own requirements for compliance by LPG refilling companies.

Initial reports have said that the company involved in the incident have secured an SCC and all other prerequisite requirements from the BFP and the Pasig government.

Cusi said the DOE will revoke the company’s SCC because of the incident and that it cannot operate until it is able to secure a new SCC after all pertinent investigations have been concluded to the DOE’s satisfaction.

“Violations of the DOE Circular on LPG Rules merit administrative sanctions on those responsible,” Cusi stressed.

LPG refilling firms are also required to comply with provisions of the Fire Code of the Philippines and local government ordinances, if any, with regards to operational safety. Overall, the BFP is mandated to ensure against fire hazards in all businesses in the Philippines.

Appoint Data Protection Officers ASAP - Privacy Commissioner

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The National Privacy Commission (NPC) has reiterated that chief executives of public and private organizations who process personal information must designate their own Data Protection Officers (DPOs) stressing its urgency following its decision on the "Comeleak" breach, which was made public last week.

NPC Chairman and Privacy Commissioner Raymund Enriquez Liboro said organizations that have yet to comply with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 should immediately appoint their own DPO, who would be accountable for ensuring compliance as regards everything related to data privacy and security. Liboro said officially designating a DPO signals an organization's "commitment to comply" with the law.

"Personal data handling is a public trust, and carries with it a burden of accountability. No amount of ignorance or legal naiveté can erase that accountability," Liboro said.

"The Data Privacy Law of 2012 is about making sure those we entrust with our personal data are actually trustworthy by compelling them to do everything they can to protect it," Liboro added.

In its decision dated December 28, 2016, the privacy body said COMELEC has failed to designate an accountable officer for data privacy, as required under Section 21 of the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

"If you process a lot of personal data, you could be a disaster waiting to happen, if you fail to apply the principles provided in the law " Liboro said.

In Section 21 of the Data Privacy Act of 2012, the DPO is defined as an "individual or individuals who are accountable for the organization’s compliance" with the privacy law, so designated by the organization in the exercise of its duty as a "personal information controller" (PIC). This requirement is echoed in the law'simplementing rules and regulations (IRR), under Section 26, which states that such individuals "shall function as data protection officer" and would "be accountable for ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations for the protection of data privacy and security."

“The DPO is essentially tasked to champion people's privacy rights from within his or her organization. In so doing, the DPO is able to minimize the risks of privacy breaches, address underlying problems, and reduce the damage arising from breaches if and when they do occur.

Complying with the law produces a lot of upside.” Showing the public your commitment to protect their personal data, lead to increased consumer trust and thus, higher patronage.”, Privacy Commissioner Liboro said.

The DPO is expected to facilitate compliance with the privacy act, which requires the following:

Adherence to data privacy principles
Implementing organizational, physical and technical security measures
Upholding the rights of data subjects

With a view to upholding the rights of data subjects, the DPO’s job is focused on protecting data --- from collection, to storage, to sharing and destruction. Part of this job includes providing data subjects with access to their personal data, and instructions on how they can object to processing and obtain relief when needed.

“What is absolutely required of the DPO is willingness to understand information security and privacy principles and the capability to monitor compliance based on the law. Or in short, he or she has to be an advocate for privacy rights of the data subject,” Liboro said. “For MSMEs that process personal data, the DPO can even be the business owner, what is important is developing a culture of privacy within their organization and ensuring their employees are aware of data privacy principles.” Liboro added.

A DPO, however, could not effectively function in a vacuum. Apart from a strong strategic framework, the job requires committed support from top management.


Lauding National Government Agencies who comply with the law.

From recent consultations with several National Government Agencies, the Commission was pleased to note that some agencies have been complying and/or starting to comply with the provisions of the Data Privacy Act of 2012 like: Department of Health, Philhealth and the Department of National Defense to name a few. Privacy Commissioner Liboro also noted,” even the NEDA has a designated Data Protection Officer who was appointed by management years ago after the law had been passed. The MMDA upon the instructions of Chairman and GM Thomas Orbos have recently appointed their own Data Protection Officer to comply with the law.” The proactive heads of these agencies must be commended for displaying zeal in protecting personal data in their agencies’ possession.”, Privacy Commissioner Liboro added.

A Guide to Security for Today's Cloud Environment

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Enterprises have rapidly incorporated cloud computing over the last decade, and that trend only seems to be accelerating. Private cloud infrastructure, including virtualization and software-defined networking (SDN), is in the process of transforming on-premise data centers, which host the majority of enterprise server workloads around the world. Enterprises are also embracing public clouds at an unprecedented rate, with most connecting back to on-premise environments to create a true hybrid cloud environment. For all their advantages, these accelerated infrastructural changes also raise major concerns about security, and the ability to protect end-users and sensitive data from ever-evolving cyber threats.

As today’s enterprise data centers evolve from static internal environments to a mix of private, public, and hybrid clouds, organizations need to augment traditional firewalls and security appliances (deployed for north-south traffic at the network edge) with expanded protection for east-west traffic moving laterally across the network, both within internal networks and across clouds.

To maintain a strong security posture in private, public, and hybrid clouds, organizations need to increase and perhaps even reallocate security to keep pace with these more dynamic, distributed, and fast-paced environments. 

Here are some specific areas to consider:

Top PC Trends for 2017

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Millennials are spending more time with their PCs than ever before. Studies indicate that the average time spent on a PC has gone up by 12 minutes since 2012. In addition, consumers are spending twice as much time watching movies and TV shows on PCs rather than tablets and smartphones combined.

“While this generation is consuming more content on their mobiles, to assume that they are letting go of their personal computers is misguided. Depending on their personal usage and needs, some users today still prefer PCs over mobile,” said Michael Ngan, Country General Manager of Lenovo Philippines. “With PCs and laptops becoming more affordable than ever, PC use will continue to thrive this year.”

As consumers become prolific creators, sharers of content and end users, Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) believes that display innovations will be a key feature that will drive customer satisfaction. The company has already implemented these features in industry-leading products such as the ThinkPad X1 Yoga’s optional OLED display; the Yoga 910’s near-edgeless 4K display; the Yoga Book featuring pen-based input, dual screen and a Halo Keyboard; as well as the Lenovo Y27g Curved Gaming Monitor.

Against this backdrop, there will be plenty to look forward to in the personal computing space in 2017.

AR/VR Gaming – The AR/VR gaming space is projected to explode as a trend in 2017. With over 50 different headsets already confirmed to be displayed at CES 2017, gaming systems are set to dominate the PC market. We can anticipate that these technologies will grow beyond the PC gaming world as new uses are discovered for the technologies. For example, schools are piloting “Virtual Reality Corners” to diversify the learning process, bringing headsets and AR-compatible devices into the classroom. Benefits of a world with AR/VR are limitless and in line with Gartner’s predictions, this immersive experience will evolve dramatically through 2021, as the technologies transform our interaction with one another and with software systems.[1]

Display Innovations – Thanks to the growing consumer interest for AR/VR gaming, display innovations subsequently follow on the fast track to growing PC trends. Last year, Lenovo was one of the first to bring curved gaming monitors to market for more immersive gaming with the Lenovo Y27g Curved Gaming Monitor and continues to invest in this space to match display capabilities with AR/VR technology that calls for vibrant, snappy visuals. Outside of gaming displays, Lenovo also introduced the ThinkPad X1 Yoga with optional OLED display and the Yoga 910 with up to 4K display, ushering these high-impact displays to become the standard.

IoT Integration – IoT will continue to leave an impression in 2017 as industry observers are already predicting “The Internet of Everything” to be a disruptive trend in technology for the year. Expect to see significant growth in both the consumer and B2B market where smart connectivity extends to virtually any endpoint in the home or workplace. Lenovo is on the path to innovate in this space with ambitious R&D plans in place to make PCs and other smart devices even more integrated and intuitive.

Versatility in Laptops and Tablets – In a recent report, IDC forecasts that detachables can be considered as a PC replacement in the commercial space, with the detachable category expected to account for 31 percent of the tablet market by 2020, an increase from its current market share of 16 percent. 2017 will undoubtedly see an abundance of convertible and detachable devices on the market as portability and versatility remain top of mind for PC users who are becoming more mobile at work and at home.

Extended PC Lifecycles – In the commercial space, analysts forecast PC-as-a-Service (PCaaS) will help PC vendors transform transactional PC sales into longer-term and more profitable engagements by expanding their services portfolios bundled with PC sales. IDC also surveyed IT buyers across a range of company sizes about PCaaS, and found that almost half of respondents said they engaged in the past 12 months or are considering engaging in the next 12 months in PCaaS. This means IT decision makers are positioned to drive and grow the PC market with customized add-on services to maintain and extend the lifecycle of the device.

The Internet of Things (IoT) will continually change the way we live in the coming year. For businesses, the potential from IoT growth will boost productivity and enhance customer engagement. On the consumer front, as we get increasingly connected and adopt new technologies, there will be a blurring of the digital and physical world.

“IoT devices can help businesses enhance customer profiles and create more effective marketing campaigns,” said Ngan. “We’re optimistic to see what IoT will bring in 2017 as more organizations and people begin to adopt IoT. At Lenovo, our aim is to innovate to deliver smart end-user devices and powerful infrastructure, all with connected services and apps, and the best user experience.”

[1] http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/3482617

Animax Kicks-off 2017 with 2 Same-Day Telecasts

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Still reeling from the brilliantly illustrated anime movie Your Name? Animax Asia has lined-up a series of exceptionally strong and compelling anime – from hit blockbusters that is close to our hearts to brand new anime series airing on the same day as Japan’s telecast – that will satisfy the desires of all anime fans in the Philippines.

The latest anime right after its broadcast in Japan: Gabriel Dropout and BanG Dream!

First to premiere is supernatural series Gabriel Dropout, a comedy series guaranteed to entertain audiences with its unconventional plot revolving around a delinquent angel! Having graduated at the top of her class, ace angel Gabriel White descends to earth to learn more about humans in order to show them the right path in life. Unfortunately, during her time in the human realm, she picks up bad habits including video game addiction and utter laziness – to the point that this former angel-role-model skips school to play video games. Will she ever find her way back to her angelic roots again? 

Gabriel Dropout airs every Monday at 11pm, on the same day as Japan.

Also premiering in January on same day as Japan is idol anime BanG Dream!. The 14 episode explosive anime series is part of a bigger franchise, which has multiple adaptions including manga, CD singles, music videos and games.  Be inspired to follow your dreams with the aspirational musical series BanG! Dream! All her life, Kasumi has been searching for the “beat of the stars”, a rhythm she heard one night as a child looking up at the sky. Just after entering high school, she chances upon a star-shaped guitar in a pawn shop, which excites new hidden feelings in her! When she meets with four other girls who have been searching for a similar feeling, she discovers that together they can produce magical sounds unlike anything she could be capable of on their own. Will they be able to find a stage for them to stand on and perform?

Follow the dream and unleash the star qualities when BanG Dream! premieres on 22 January, airing every Sunday at 8.30pm, on the same day as Japan.

Fans can also look forward to other popular anime series, which will premiere first and exclusively on Animax: 

Re: Zero -Starting Life in Another World-

The highly-acclaimed anime that has topped anime polls and charts is set to make its television debut on Animax.  It is no ordinary action and fantasy anime; it has become a worldwide phenomenon with over 2 million copies of its light novel sold.  The series follows Subaru Natsuki who is stranded in an alternate world.  Subaru will soon realize that the only way to survive in this new world is to reverse time, an ability that can only be activated when he dies.

Premieres 13 January, airing every Thursday and Friday at 10pm

Fairy Tail (Season 6)

Dubbed as the most intense season yet, the anime will continue from where it left off the last season.  This time, Natsu, Lucy and friends will find out that Tartaros, a dark guild, and its team of mages known as the Nine Demon Gates is behind some of the recent chaos and destruction. Will they be able to stop the mayhem restore the peace? This season will also unfold the untold story behind the beginnings of the Fairy Tail guild as young Mavis Vermillion, the first guild master and co-founder of Fairy Tail goes on a journey and meets friends and foes alike.

Premieres 17 January, every Monday and Tuesday at 10pm

Handa-kun

The much anticipated prequel and spin off the heartwarming anime series Barakamon, Handa-kun tells the tales of Sei Handa, a handsome high school student who is worshipped and deeply respected by his classmates due to the aloof yet charismatic aura he gives out.  To them, he is perfect and out of their league and no one dares to approach him carelessly. However, for Sei and his inherent negative personality, he constantly mistakes such respect as hatred and hostility towards him, leading to unexpected hilarious situations.

Premieres 18 January, every Wednesday and Thursday at 8pm

Animax is available on SKYCable Channel 46, Cignal Digital TV Channel 73, and Dream Channel 07.